–The Shakespeare authorship question
is a paradigmatic case of collective reality denial,
driven by mechanisms that can be described as follows.
Why does the academic Shakespeare establishment persist in denying the reality of the Shakespeare authorship problem?
1. Psychological Reasons
Protection against loss of identity: For many literary scholars and cultural figures, Shakespeare forms the foundation of their worldview. If he were not the true author, their life’s work, careers, or personal pride would be shaken.
Cognitive dissonance: The historical source situation is strikingly thin and full of contradictions. Yet admitting that “Shakespeare” might not be the author contradicts centuries of belief. To avoid this mental tension, reality is suppressed.
Comfort zone: It is easier to cling to the familiar story of the genius from Stratford than to engage seriously with complex alternative models (such as Marlowe, Bacon, or Oxford).
2. Social Reasons
Group belonging: The academic community largely adheres as a bloc to orthodox doctrine. Those who dissent risk exclusion and stigmatization.
Career pressure: A young scholar who argues against orthodoxy would have little chance of an academic career. Silence is therefore the safer option.
Authorities: Famous professors, major institutions (Oxford, Cambridge, the Folger Library), and publishers reinforce the traditional image. It takes considerable courage to oppose them.
3. Socio-cultural Reasons
National myth: In England, Shakespeare is more than a poet—he is a cultural symbol, almost a “saintly figure.” Challenging this myth feels to many like an attack on national identity.
Tourism and economy: Stratford-upon-Avon lives off its “Shakespeare.” A revision of authorship would have enormous economic consequences.
Educational tradition: Entire school systems worldwide are built on “Shakespeare” as an unquestionable classic. Rethinking this would require rewriting textbooks and curricula.
4. Existential Reasons
Meaning-making: Shakespeare is regarded as the embodiment of the human spirit. If this image falters, the cultural order collapses for many.
Fear of chaos: Admitting that “Shakespeare” was not the author would mean conceding that centuries of scholarship rested on an error. That would amount to an intellectual earthquake.
👉 In short:
The denial of reality in the Shakespeare authorship question has little to do with a lack of arguments against Stratford—and much more to do with psychological self-protection, social pressure, and the preservation of cultural myths.
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